A Pentictonite's guide to Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Jennifer Jones will lead Manitoba's team in the 2018 Penticton Scotties Tournament of Hearts, along with team members pictured above, left to right: Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, and Dawn McEwen.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

January 24, 2018 - 4:30 PM

PENTICTON - Penticton is about to become the centre of Canada’s curling universe, come Saturday with the first games of the 2018 Penticton Scotties Tournament of Hearts event.

If you’re not a curling fan, life in the city should go on relatively unchanged but if you are a curling fan, or want to get involved just because Scotties is one of Canada’s most prestigious curling events, you’ll find all things curling taking place at the South Okanagan Events Centre from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.

Ticket prices start at $19.50 for mid-week morning play, with day packages starting at $49 but prices go up from there. Packages for the opening weekend are $89 and the Championship weekend package sells for $189.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the Scotties tournament shouldn’t result in any inconveniences for city residents not interested in the event, as the tournament is contained to the events centre grounds.

In spite of an anticipated 3,000 out of town spectators and 94 athletes, the 12-day event will not likely be noticed in most parts of the community, since its low season and there are few other tourists in the city this time of year.

The city hopes to see between $6 and $12 million in economic impact for its contribution of $200,000 to the event.

It is also garnering revenue from a two-week rental of the events centre and 10-day rental of the convention centre.

Some of the city’s downtown merchants have decorated their storefronts in a curling theme, and the city kicked off the tournament this afternoon, Jan. 24, with the official unveiling of the Peach concession in traditional curling attire.

The Peach concession has been outfitted in curling garb as the city prepares to welcome the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts this weekend.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

Amanda and Paul McPhail of McPhail Kilts put together the nine-foot Tam worn by the Peach. Paul thinks it might be a world record, and has plans to apply for that recognition.

If you’re on celebrity lookout, keep an eye out for Championship curler and TSN analyst Russ Howard, and eight time Manitoba provincial champion Jennifer Jones in the Peach City.

For residents who want to find out what all the excitement is about, there is free admission into the first wild card round, taking place at the events centre Friday night, Jan. 26. It’s a great opportunity to check out the calibre of play and get a first hand look at a professional game.

This would be a good time to bone up on your curling jargon, which can be a language unto itself.

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